All is safe here on Taiwan

Hello one and all!

First off I need to correct an error I made in last weeks email. I
said that during tsunamis we still go out and preach. That however is
false. Oops! We actually have typhoons, which are a lot less scary,
and it is during them that we still go out. Sis. Howard says that we
rarely have tsunamis on Taiwan. As for the earthquake and tsunami in
Japan I still can't believe it. President Bishop addressed that in his
letter this week and didn't mention any concerns about the radiation
on Taiwan. Just to satisfy curiousty (if there is any :D) I am going
to put the part of his letter discussing Japan at the bottom of this
email. I am so relieved to hear that all of the missionaries and most
of the members are safe. God truly does love and protect His
missionaries.

Last week I said that the week flew by super fast and I feel like that
once again. I seriously can't believe it is already Monday again. Wow!
And this is the last week of the move-call. I can't believe I am in my
sixth week on island. That is so crazy. Sis. Howard doesn't think
either of us will be moving but of course there is no guarantee.
Apparently President Bishop decides two move calls in advance where
people will be going so before I even got on island he already pretty
much knew where I will be next move call. He is such a rockstar!

Big news of the week........ We are having our first baptism on
Friday!!!! Her name is Zhang Shu Qin and I am so excited for her! We
met her for the first time about three weeks ago and she is already
getting baptized! It's really rare to have a three week baptism so we
are stocked! It is our first and only baptism this move-call, but she
is so solid! Sis. Howard and I basically started with a clean slate of
investigator's when I got here and have gone from having zero actually
progressing investigator's to six this week. It's been hard, stressful
work, but it is so worth it. I have loved being able to watch Shu Qin
from the first meeting till now. She has complete faith that through
Jesus Christ she can do anything. We are hoping that her husband will
attend her baptism and will one day become interested in the gospel.
Eternal families are so important!

We have a couple more investigator's that are progressing really well.
I hope that I will still be here next move-call to see them enter the
waters of baptism as well. It is such exciting work!

Last week mom asked me how the language is coming and I forgot to
answer. I am actually really suprised at how much I can understand. I
definitely don't understand each word, but I can almost always pick up
on the general idea of what is being said. It is really amazing. Each
day though I feel like I am able to understand more na dmore actual
words they are using. Our mission has a special language program that
we are "required" to do. We have a book that has Preach My Gospel
broken down into English, Pinyin, and characters with specific words,
phrases and grammer that we have to memorize. We have to "pass-off"
each lesson with our district leaders and then zone leaders. It sounds
intense but it really is a blessing. It's nice to have a specific goal
to work towards in my language studys. After Phase 1 (teaching the
lessons) I will start working on Phase 2 and 3 which are reading and
writing characters. I have been given amazing tools to truly become a
master at Chinese. I am so grateful for the Lord's help each day as I
try and improve my Chinese. I can testify that the Lord really is
helping me learn Chinese. I have His very important message to share
with the people of Taiwan and He wants me to be able to share it with
them. I love when people ask how we white girls have such great
Chinese (well, Sis Howard's is great and mine is getting there :D) and
we can truly say that we have God's help. It is a great opportunity to
bear testimony!

Well, I think it is time for me to go. Thank you so much mom for
taking the time to write me before you left for tour. If Kim reads
this to you while you're still gone I hope you and Julie are having
fun. If not I hope you had a great time. Thank you also for sending
the packages. You are amazing! I am so grateful that you are so
resourceful and that I am lucky enough to have had it passed on to me.
This week I said "use it up, wear it up, make it do, or do without"
and Sis. Howard had no idea what I was talking about. I thought for
sure everyone knew that phrase. I don't know where you got it from but
thank you for teaching it to me!

I love you all!
Sister Amy Reece


Excerpt from President Bishop's letter:
"Most of you are aware of the tragedy in Japan. The Sendai area
experienced a massive earthquake, followed by a devastating tsunami,
which damaged a nuclear power plant. These series of events have
caused great suffering in Japan. Most of you know by now that all the
missionaries in Japan are safe. Most of the members are known to be
safe; there are still 3 congregations where the status of a few
members is unknown. The Church has reassigned missionaries in the
hard hit areas. The church is moving forward with humanitarian
efforts to help those affected by these series of disasters put their
lives back together. The Church has 125,000 members in Japan who are
being equipped and trained to administer relief to their countrymen.
Regardless of where disaster strikes, Latter-day Saints respond
quickly to bless the lives of all who stand in need.
While we in Taiwan are not directly affected by these events, we can
take time to pause and learn. We can and should continue to pray for
our Japanese brothers and sisters. We know that the last days will
be filled with these types of events. The Lord has told us, “if ye
are prepared, ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30)"